Guest Editorial: Voters have right to determine education funding - Public needs voice on taxes

The voters have spoken on Amendment 4, which would have eliminated racist language from the Alabama constitution. Largely concerned about protecting the state's public education system, a majority of voters rejected the amendment on Nov. 6.

But there are straightforward reasons why that language should be eliminated. The constitution establishes the framework for the state laws and policies that govern all Alabamians, which includes the black residents who make up 28 percent of the state's population. Language in the state constitution should be removed, even if it has already been rendered meaningless by federal law, because it was intended to strip black residents of their rights and it's offensive.

If the Legislature's upcoming effort to rewrite the constitution's education article becomes the vehicle for removing the racist language, then, by all means, point the ship in that direction and set sail. Republicans now hold a supermajority in both chambers of the Legislature, but they should include Democratic legislators, a majority of whom are black, in the process. They should even invite involvement from the Alabama Education Association, the state teachers' union, despite its campaign of disinformation that helped defeat Amendment 4.

But Republicans should hold steady on one point: They should not allow the article to be rewritten in such a way as to enable the courts or the Legislature to subvert the people's right to determine what taxes support public education.

Under the Alabama constitution, property tax increases must be approved by voters in a referendum. Yes, local school boards must go to the Legislature to get permission to hold a referendum, but those requests are routinely granted.

The real roadblock for increasing education taxes has been the voters. They continue to reject new property taxes, and they've been vilified, at least in some quarters, every time they do.

One can agree with the voters' decisions or disagree. But nobody should disagree with voters having a choice. Efforts to rewrite the state constitution should preserve that choice.

- Tuscaloosa News

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Guest Editorial: Voters have right to determine education funding - Public needs voice on taxes

The voters have spoken on Amendment 4, which would have eliminated racist language from the Alabama constitution. Largely concerned about protecting the state's public education system, a majority of

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